Islamabad (Staff Report): Saudi Arabia has announced Pakistan’s Hajj quota increased to 200,000.
Speaking to state-run PTV channel, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that his Saudi counterpart Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir during a telephonic conversation informed him that Pakistan’s Hajj quota increased to 200,000. “The government and people of Pakistan are thankful to the Saudi government for this commendable step,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia has increased the Hajj quota for Pakistan from the existing 184,210 pilgrims to 200,000 to facilitate more people from the brotherly country to perform Hajj,” Qureshi the FM added.
Meanwhile, the Saudi authorities have also allowed Pakistani pilgrims to complete their immigration in Pakistan and not in the kingdom after making the country part of their “Road to Makkah” project.
According to Hajj policy 2019, expenses for Hajj will be divided into two zones. Expenses for the northern zone would be Rs436,975 and for the southern zone would be Rs427,975. The government will provide Rs45,000 subsidy per Hajji.
The cabinet was informed that 184,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year and applications would be accepted from 20 February. 60 per cent of the Hajj quota would be allocated to the government with the remaining 40 per cent for private operators.
People of 80 years and above will be able to perform Hajj without any draw. People who have been unsuccessful for three consecutive years will also not be required to enter the draw.